The Summit was a gathering of people united by a shared ambition: to improve the lives of those who draw on care and support through better use of digital, data, cyber security and innovation. The aim was to explore how digital can support better care, stronger partnerships and improved outcomes as social care enters a new era of neighbourhood-based working.
The Summit was designed to bring together voices from every part of the care ecosystem. Throughout the day, panel discussions featured people with lived experience, unpaid carers, care providers, suppliers, commissioners, integrated care system leaders, researchers, policymakers and regulatory experts.
Meaningful transformation only happens when differing perspectives come together, and the Summit was attended by people from right across the spectrum of the sector – some who spend their days working at the centre of technology, and others who were early into considering adoption and direction. This mix created an atmosphere that was energetic, curious and collaborative.
Starting with people, not technology
Greenwich Carers Centre opened the Summit with Empathy, a short play written and performed by unpaid carers. The performance followed the increasingly frustrating journey of a daughter attempting to navigate the healthcare system while supporting her elderly mother. The performance brought a mix of reactions and emotions – from comedy to care.
In just a few minutes, the performance did exactly what the Summit was designed to do. It reminded everyone in the room that behind every conversation about apps, systems, data or AI are real people trying to live their lives, provide support, deliver services or access care.
This message reflected one of the Summit’s central themes: digital transformation must start with people and outcomes, not technology for technology’s sake. The impact carried throughout the day. Speakers regularly drew on personal as well as professional experiences, creating discussions that felt grounded in the realities of care.
The themes that shaped conversations
I am eager for the Summit and its discussion points to live beyond the day itself, and feed into Andy Burnham’s commitment to rebuild and re-envision the sector.
Early assessment of notes and shared content from the Summit suggest strong themes of alignment across the board
- We need to ensure technology genuinely works for people.
- Moving beyond collecting data.
- Trust, relationships and governance.
We need to ensure technology genuinely works for people
This principle surfaced across discussions about care technology, AI, digital records and data sharing. Delegates repeatedly emphasised that successful implementation is about solving real problems and making day-to-day care easier and more effective. The strongest examples showcased technology as an enabler of independence, reassurance and personalised support.
Several sessions challenged the assumption that because digital tools exist, they are automatically delivering value. Presenters highlighted the importance of culture, leadership, training and adoption. Technology left unused, misunderstood or disconnected from everyday practice benefits nobody. As one session explored, successful implementation is as much a human challenge as a technical one.
Moving beyond collecting data
Sessions explored topics ranging from public health research and national social care datasets to shared care records and integrated systems. Attendees heard how initiatives such as Vivaldi Social Care and the London Care Record are helping to unlock the value of information that was previously fragmented across organisations and systems.
Commenting on one of the sessions, Katie Thorn, Director of Innovation at Digital Care Hub, said, ‘I heard Amy Lewis from Just Checking say today, “More data doesn’t automatically mean better care.” That’s truer now that ever. Collecting, understanding and caring for data takes time. You have to be doing something meaningful with it for it to be of value to the people who should be benefiting from the work.’
This sentiment resonated strongly with delegates. Speakers highlighted the importance of turning information into practical insight, helping providers identify trends, benchmark performance, improve outcomes and contribute to a more complete picture of adult social care.
Discussions also showcased examples of what connected data can achieve. Delegates heard how shared care records and Universal Care Plans are helping clinicians access information more quickly, reduce duplication and ensure care decisions are informed by what matters most to the individual.
Trust, relationships and governance
Sessions examining partnerships between care providers, integrated care boards and local authorities repeatedly concluded that successful collaboration depends on relationships, shared goals and genuine co-production. Providers stressed the importance of being recognised as equal partners within the wider health and care system, while commissioners highlighted the value of listening to frontline expertise when designing new approaches.
Technology was consistently described as an enabler rather than the destination. Speakers emphasised that innovation is most effective when it starts by identifying people’s needs and understanding desired outcomes before searching for technological solutions.
Alongside these discussions, delegates explored emerging issues around cyber resilience, AI governance and regulation. Sessions led by Lester Aldridge highlighted the growing need for organisations to understand consent, accountability and evidence when deploying AI-enabled tools. A key message from these conversations was that while technology can support decision-making, accountability always remains with providers.
Cyber security sessions also prompted practical discussions about resilience and communication. Attendees explored how organisations can prepare for incidents before they happen, ensuring they can continue delivering care, communicate effectively and maintain trust during challenging circumstances.
Shaping the future together
Perhaps the most encouraging conclusion from the day was the overwhelming sense of momentum. Social care is entering a period of significant change. Discussions around Neighbourhood Health, integration, prevention, data sharing and workforce transformation are gathering pace. The Summit demonstrated that there is considerable enthusiasm across the sector to engage with these opportunities and shape the future together.
The conversations throughout the Summit suggested that digital is becoming an essential part of how care services collaborate, innovate and deliver better outcomes. If the first Digital Care Summit London proved anything, it is that the sector is ready for these conversations and eager to have them together. Technology may have brought people into the room, but it was the shared commitment to better care that made the event memorable.
Collaboration and partnership
Commenting on the Summit’s outcomes, Marta Bascunan, Partnership and Development Manager at Digital Care Hub, said, ‘This event would not have had the reach and impact it did, without the voices of the many partners we worked alongside to craft it.’
Early in the planning process, we reached out to partners and friends, ultimately joining voices and perspectives together as part of the Summit’s Co-production Group. From people with lived experience of the care sector, to digital policy employees of the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), many contributors helped shape the programme, with the speaker pool being just as diverse as the Co-production Group.
The Co-production Group comprised: Care City, Care Provider’s Voice, The London Care and Support Forum, NHS England, National Co-production Advisory Group and Think Local, Act Personal. Not forgetting the organisations that made the Summit possible thanks to their sponsorship or partnership support: DHSC, Evaran, Lester Aldridge, Casson Consulting and Health Connect.
To view the presentations and resources from the Summit, visit the Digital Care Hub website. Then, share your thoughts on the Summit’s discussion points by leaving a comment on this feature.
Michelle Corrigan is Chief Executive Officer at Digital Care Hub.
Email: [email protected]
Linkedin: @Digital-Care-Hub